A look inside the San Andreas fault at Parkfield through vertical seismic profiling

The San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) is a major strike-slip fault system. Understanding its structure and dynamics is important for understanding the nucleation of earthquakes and the mechanics of plate [...]
The San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth pilot hole is located on the southwestern side of the Parkfield San Andreas fault. This observatory includes a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) array. VSP seismograms from nearby micro-earthquakes contain signals between the P and S waves. These signals may be P and S waves scattered by the local geologic structure. The collected scattering points form planar surfaces that we interpret as the San Andreas fault and four other secondary faults. The scattering process includes conversions between P and S waves, the strengths of which suggest large contrasts in material properties, possibly indicating the presence of cracks or fluids.